Simplicity Series: Robin Long

Hi, I’m Robin! I currently live in Colorado but in just a few weeks I’ll be moving back to the beach in Santa Barbara, CA with my husband and 2 little kids. I’m a Pilates instructor and creator of The Balanced Life – a website dedicated to helping busy women get fit from home. I’m passionate about helping women learn to love and appreciate their bodies. Our motto over at The Balanced Life is “grace over guilt.” So many of us use guilt as a way to motivate ourselves to workout and it really doesn’t work, so I’ve made it my mission to change the conversation and empower women to exercise and eat well for the RIGHT reasons (not to look like someone on the cover of a magazine).

How do you take care of yourself so that you’re physically and mentally prepared to be your best self for others?

The primary thing I do is pursue my passions. I love my work and I love learning. Running my own business with a 3 year old and 9 month old isn’t easy, but it gives me life and grows me as a person.

I also make time for exercise a at least 3 days per week (usually Pilates), meditate for 5 minutes per day, eat balanced meals and get quarterly massages.

What’s your favorite beauty secret?

Food! Eating a nutritious diet and drinking plenty of water is the only beauty secret I have. ☺ I get facials about once every 3 years (haha) and when I do, the estiticains always compliment me on my skincare routine – they are usually shocked to hear that I don’t get regular facials or use many products. I credit my (mostly) clear complexion a healthy diet (low in gluten and dairy) lots of water and good genes.

What’s your favorite go-to outfit for a quick polished look?

I’m a maxi-dress girl through and through. They’re easy, comfortable and fit almost any occasion.

I love @coffeeandcrumbs. It’s a collective blog about motherhood and the posts are heartfelt, genuine and encouraging.

What tradition or routine is important to you?

I have a few!

One – I get coffee from a coffee shop almost every day. To some this may sound frivolous, but to me, it is a way to treat myself on a daily basis. I am the primary caregiver to our small kids and I also run a business that supports our family. It’s not easy. Getting coffee feels like a treat and has become a routine that I love and embrace.

Two – Daily gratitude. Every day I thank God for anything and everything I can think of. Focusing on all that I have been given and all of the good things in my life changes my perspective and brings me so much joy. Practicing gratitude on a daily basis has truly changed my life.

I LOVE podcasts. I listen to one almost every day. I love listening to business and entrepreneurship podcasts that challenge me to think in new ways.

My best ideas for new programs usually come to me while I’m out on a headphone-free run.

We know you’re a busy lady! How do you balance owning your own company (and all of the responsibilities that come along with that!), in addition to your home and personal life? Any tips for our readers?

Sticking to a very consistent sleeping routine has been the most important thing I’ve done to make things work. I’ve worked every nap time since my daughter was born 3 years ago and now, with 2 little ones at home, it’s even more important that their sleep schedule is predictable. We keep a pretty solid routine around our house to ensure that our kids take good naps and I can get my work done. There is no way I would be able to run a business and be home if I couldn’t count on a solid afternoon naptime. ☺

One of the other things that really helps is preparing for the week on Sundays. I do all of the grocery shopping and food prep over the weekend so that I don’t have to worry about it during the week. I also sit down with my husband and go over the calendar for the upcoming week so we can plan accordingly.

Lastly, hiring a house cleaner was one of the best decisions I ever made. ☺

What’s your favorite app (or other tool) for helping you do life?

Asana is the #1 tool I use within my business. After that I’d say it’s my google calendar. I color code it to reflect work commitments, program schedules, our editorial calendar, scheduled childcare and other important dates I want to remember. I don’t know where I’d be without calendar reminders!